Although malocclusion, or the issue of crooked teeth, can have a significant impact on your smile’s aesthetic value (not to mention your confidence), many patients opt to keep their teeth crooked rather than straighten them. This may be largely due to apprehension about traditional orthodontic treatment, which requires the use of metal brackets and wires for up to two years or more. However, as a dedicated Lafayette dentist, Dr. Michael J. Young warns that crooked teeth can prove hazardous to your oral health as a whole. Today, we explore some of the facts you may not know about malocclusion, including the role that your teeth’s positions play in your mouth’s good health and proper function.
Exploring Malocclusion
- Aside from making your smile more appealing, straight teeth serve a vital function—displacing the pressure of your bite. When your teeth are perfectly aligned, the impact from biting and chewing is evenly distributed among your teeth, minimizing the pressure absorbed by each of your teeth. When this balance is disrupted, some teeth can be forced to withstand more pressure than they were meant for, and may sustain structural damage (i.e., cracks, fractures, and breakage) for their efforts.
- Balance isn’t the only thing affected by crooked teeth; they The can also place your oral health at an increased risk for dental health issues, like tooth decay and gum disease. The odd angles, additional crevices, and inconsistent landscape of a crooked smile can make it easier for bacterial dental plaque to hide and proliferate, possibly out of the reach of your toothbrush and floss.
- Although straightening crooked teeth is often necessary, you don’t have to endure the possible professional embarrassment of wearing metal braces. Your Lafayette dentist offers a choice of discrete, adult orthodontic treatments, such as Invisalign and ClearCorrect, that allow you to straighten your teeth without announcing your orthodontic treatment to everyone you meet.
Straighten Your Crooked Teeth with Help from Your Lafayette Dentist
To learn more about the importance of correcting crooked teeth, or to find out about our innovative, discrete alternative to metal braces, schedule an appointment with your Lafayette dentist by calling Dr. Young at (337) 237-6453. Located in the 70508 area, we proudly serve patients from Lafayette and all surrounding communities.